Flexible shaft casing terminal



May fl, 1934. Q sc 1,956,713

FLEXIBLE SHAFT CASING TERMINAL Filed Dec. 12, 1953 INVENTQR Char/e5 F/scher H15 ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 1934 STTE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to flexible shaft casing terminals.

It is well known in the art of assembling a flexible shaft casing assembly to connect a driven unit with a driving unit by attaching to the end of the flexible shaft casing a terminal having a peripheral flange which may be engaged by a sleeve nut screwed into a threaded boss extending from the driving or driven member. This construction is costly in that the boss or extension from the driving or driven member must be threaded and a sleeve nut provided.

It is also known in the art to bell or enlarge the terminal coils of a flexible shaft casing so as to form a shoulder between the enlarged portion and the body portion of the flexible casing. It is often necessary to remove the casing from the housings of the driving or driven mechanisms and the result of this is a marked tendency of the flexible casing, which is formed of spirally coiled wire strands, to ravel, thus greatly impairing its usefulness.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a flexible shaft casing terminal which will be economical to manufacture and will preelude any possibility of the ravelling of the ends of the flexible shaft casing.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this specification proceeds. Referring to the drawing forming a part thereof:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one end of a flexible shaft casing with the terminal in engagement with the boss or extension of a driving or driven mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one of the flexible shaft casing terminals and a fragment of the flexible shaft casing; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View in the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring again to said drawing the flexible shaft casing 5 is formed of a plurality of spirally coiled wire strands.

Secured to the ends of the flexible shaft casing 5 is a flexible shaft casing terminal 6. The ter minal, as indicated, is made hollow from a single piece of metal and comprises an enlarged or bell portion '7, a neck portion 8, and an attaching portion 9.

The enlarged or bell portion 7 is of greater external and internal diameter than the respective external and internal diameters of the flexible casing 5. A double thread or spiral groove 10 is cut on the enlarged bell portion 7. This is mainly for ornamental purposes, although it will act to cause a set screw to grip somewhat more firmly when it contacts one of the grooves.

The neck portion 8 is of substantially the same outside and inside diameter as the external and internal diameter of the flexible shaft casing. The outside diameter thus permits of a maximum amount of shoulder for a pin or set screw to hold the terminal and casing in position in a boss or extension from a driving or driven member. It is desirable to have the neck portion of the same internal diameter as the casing so that the flexible shaft or cable may be easily inserted and properly incased all the way through.

The attaching portion 9, which gently tapers toward its open end, is of thin cross sectional area due to being counter bored and is provided with a shoulder 11 at the end of the counter bore. The end of the flexible shaft casing abuts the shoulder 11 and the attaching portion '7 is swaged, soldered or otherwise secured to the end of the casing.

A terminal is thus provided which is exceptionally neat and graceful in appearance, highly efficient in use, and very economical to manufacture.

Fig. 1 illustrates the terminal secured in an extension or boss 12 from a driving or driven member. As shown, a set screw 13 is engaging the neck portion 8 thus firmly holding the terminal and casing in position. Naturally the securing means may be widely varied and if desired the set screw might impinge on the enlarged bell portion '7.

Such changes in detail as would occur to one skilled in the art are to be considered as coming within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A flexible shaft casing terminal made hollow from a single piece of metal and comprising a belled portion of larger external and internal diameter than the external and internal diameter of the flexible shaft casing to which the terminal is to be attached, a neck portion having substantially the same external and internal diameters as the external and internal diameters of the flexible shaft casing, and an attaching portion for the casing, and the bell portion extending a substantial distance beyond the neck portion and threaded throughout its length.

CHARLES FISCHER. 

